A nurse is reinforcing teaching about palliative care to a client who has cancer. Which of the following statements should the nurse make?

A. Initiates speech rarely: This is a negative symptom of schizophrenia, where the individual may exhibit a lack of motivation or interest in social interaction, leading to reduced speech or verbal communication. Negative symptoms refer to the absence or decrease of normal functioning or behaviors, such as lack of speech, emotional expression, or motivation.

B. Has a preoccupation with religious thoughts: This is more of a positive symptom, potentially indicating delusions or hallucinations. Positive symptoms involve the presence of abnormal thoughts or behaviors.

C. Mimics the nurse's movements: This behavior, called echopraxia, is a positive symptom of schizophrenia, which involves involuntary imitation of another person's movements.

D. Smells odors that don't exist: This is a hallucination, which is a positive symptom of schizophrenia. Hallucinations are sensory perceptions without external stimuli, such as hearing voices or smelling things that aren’t there.

A. Wearing a mask by family members is not typically necessary at home once the client is on effective treatment for tuberculosis and the infectious period has passed. The client should avoid public places and limit contact with vulnerable individuals, but family members do not need to wear masks at home after the initial treatment phase.

B. Long-term medication is required for tuberculosis, but not for the rest of the client’s life. Treatment usually lasts for 6-9 months, not a lifetime. Adherence to the medication regimen is crucial to prevent relapse or resistance.

C. Throwing away used tissues in a closed plastic bag is correct. This is a key infection control measure to prevent the spread of tuberculosis through respiratory droplets. Used tissues should be discarded in a closed, lined container, and the client should practice good hygiene.

D. No longer infectious after 30 days of treatment is incorrect. A client with tuberculosis may remain infectious until they have completed several weeks of treatment and show improvement. Typically, a negative sputum culture is used to confirm the client is no longer infectious.